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In everyday language, "volatile" means to erupt emotionally or suddenly become angry or violent. It can also mean someone whose emotions swing up and down quickly. The word itself originated from a Latin word meaning "to fly" or a creature that flies (according to the site Reference), giving substance to the definition of the word as flighty or quick to change. Similarly, in chemistry, a substance that is volatile is quick to change, as it moves from a liquid to a vapor, which, in a sense, is "flying."